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City revenues

Status: Closed
Assigned To: kwavra (Finance)
Ticket ID: 5801a2ce

Sir/Ma'am: I'm a book author seeking some information, which I've tried and failed to identify in your online revenue reports. For your most recent reporting period/fiscal year, what percentage of Great Falls revenues come from gaming or activities at gambling casinos and other legal gaming activities? Does this income include permit fees and locally collected taxes, do some or all permitting and tax funds go to the state with a portion returned to Great Falls, or is your funding from these sources some combination of the two? And under which heading in the Comprehensive Financial Report are such revenues included? Your assistance greatly appreciated.
Thank you,

Bill McMichael
New Castle DE 19720
302-668-6459

Ticket History

Closed
Updated By: kwavra
Assigned To: kwavra (Finance)
01/31/2018 - 3:57pm
Public
Pending Citizen Response
Updated By: kwavra
Assigned To: kwavra (Finance)

Hi Bill,

We have been receiving this entitlement share from the State since 2001.  More detailed information about the percentages received for gaming activities could be obtained from the State as we do not see a break out of how much each entitlement is in our total share payment. 

For FY17, the entitlement share to the General Fund was $7,871,888. This was 26% of total General Fund revenue.  On top of that, we received $152,350 for gaming licenses which are not part of the entitlement share.  These licenses are paid to the State and we receive our portion of the payment from them.  

Hope this helps.  Thanks.

 

01/24/2018 - 2:26pm
Pending Citizen Response
Updated By: Visitor
Assigned To: kwavra (Finance)

Thanks for the quick reply. I'm just trying to understand this. I'm confused in that according to an online reference to HB 124 from the Montana Legislative Branch Legislative Fiscal Division, March 2002, all revenues from video gambling now go to the General Fund. To wit:
Prior to HB 124, two-thirds of the total video gambling tax revenue was statutorily appropriated from the state special revenue fund to municipalities or towns in which the machines were located. This additional tax revenue of $27.7 million in fiscal 2002 and $30.1 million in fiscal 2003 is now deposited to the general fund. Since fiscal 2001 general fund collections include the local government allocation for the last quarter, the percent of fiscal 2001 actual collections through February is only 32.6 percent of total collections. Collections to date in fiscal 2002 are 52.1 percent of the total estimate, which is more representative of a normal receipt pattern.
It would appear that this has changed, given your reference to gaming activities being included in entitlements from the state. When did that change?
Also, I'm unclear as to which amount was 26% of General Fund revenue. The $7,871,888 is 26% of the total for fy17?
Further, since the $152,350 is not included in the $7,871,888 the city received from the state in fy17, does that mean gaming license fees are paid directly to the city?
Thank you,

Bill McMichael
New Castle, DE 19720
302-668-6459

01/23/2018 - 9:54am
Public
Pending Citizen Response
Updated By: kwavra
Assigned To: kwavra (Finance)

Bill - In fiscal year 2017, the City received $7,871,888 as an entitlement share from the State which includes gaming activities as referenced in Montana House Bill 124.  The City does not know how much of this entitlement was for gaming specifically.  The amount was 26% of General Fund revenue.  This amount does not include $152,350 received for gaming licenses.  In the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, this revenue is recognized in the General Fund under intergovernmental revenue.  Please let us know if you have any further questions.  

01/22/2018 - 3:56pm
New
Assigned To:

Citizen request/question created.

01/22/2018 - 7:41am

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